Jimmy Martin
b. James Henry Martin, 10 August 1927, on a farm near Sneedville, Tennessee, USA. He learned to play the guitar as a boy and first appeared on radio in Morristown in 1948. He joined Bill Monroe in 1949 and remained with him (except for a short break) until 1954. Many rate Martin to be the finest lead singer and guitarist ever to work with Monroe. He played on some of Monroe's best recordings and sang notable duets with him including Memories Of Mother And Dad. In the mid-50s, he worked with the Osborne Brothers, with whom he recorded 20-20 Vision, before eventually forming his own Sunny Mountain Boys. Martin went on to become a legend of bluegrass music, he played the WJR Detroit BARN DANCE, LOUISIANA HAYRIDEand all major venues. Over the years his band has contained some of the greatest bluegrass musicians including J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson and Alan Munde. He recorded for Decca and had some chart successes including Rock Hearts (1958) and Widow Maker (1964). He also achieved acclaim for his work on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's legendary 1972 album, WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN. Many experts believe that Martin has never been afforded full credit for his contributions over the years. It may be that his frankness and the perfection that he expects from his musicians has at times gone against him.